Tony Scott, director of Top Gun, Man On Fire, and True Romance, has died (1944-2012)

UPDATE: It is now being reported that the director had "inoperable brain cancer" before his suicide. UPDATE#2: Sadly, now it is being reported that he did NOT have brain cancer. We will leave the rest to the autopsy results. At this point, we're just saddened to see this man's life end.

A crushing blow has been dealt to the filmmaking community today, as legendary director Tony Scott has died of an apparent suicide. The 68-year-old director, known for his high-octane films like TOP GUN, CRIMSON TIDE, TRUE ROMANCE, and MAN ON FIRE, is best known for redefining the action genre with his quick-cut action and macho style that continues to be imitated to this day.

Authorities reported that Scott jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island in Los Angeles after climbing a fence and jumping. A suicide note was found at the director's office and his death is being investigated as such. "We will go where the facts take us. We have no reason to believe it was not a suicide," said Lt. Joe Bale of the L.A. Coroner's office.

Scott, brother of Ridley, began his career directing commericals, staring his filmmaking career with the 1982 film THE HUNGER with David Bowie. Although not a critical success, the film attracted the producing pair of Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer, who helmed the English-born director to helm their jet plane actioner TOP GUN (1985), which served as the calling card for not only the director, but for Simpson/Bruckheimer, Cruise, and the action genre as a whole.

The director followed with BEVERLY HILLS COP 2 (1987), the Kevin Costner pic REVENGE (1990). He returned to the Simpson/Bruckheimer fold with DAYS OF THUNDER (1990), then tackled the Shane-Black scripted THE LAST BOY SCOUT (1991)with Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans. Scott then brought Quentin Tarantino's script for TRUE ROMANCE (1993) to the big screen with a massive cast, including Christian Slater and Christopher Walken.

In the days to come, more details will likely be revealed, but I will always remember the artist and the truly epic legacy he has left in his wake. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts and feelings on the loss of Tony Scott, but ask that you keep your comments respectful.

Personally, I credit Tony Scott as being the director who first awakened me to film as an art. I first noticed his style with TOP GUN and REVENGE, two films which I always felt had a distinct style all their own, which I'd never seen in any other film. It led me to buy my first "movie book," which cross-referenced all actors, directors, and films with each other. Upon discovering the resume of Scott, my film journey began and has yet to stop. He was a true inspiration and a visionary in his own right.